Publication dates

[Jan1954]

I have some books that do not have a publication date anywhere on them, so how can I find out if they are still within copyright date?

They are reference books and look as if they were published in the 1930s-1950s. But, without reading them from cover to cover in a search for clues - and we are looking at nearly 2000 pages - I do not know where to begin.

Simple question, but I'm blowed if I know the answer!

Therefore, any assistance is deeply appreciated. Thank you.

[malcolm99]

Could you post the details of 2 or 3 titles and then we could scout around for you. Author/editor, title, publisher should be enough.

[Philippa_Harvey]

Jan, I just used Mr Google and typed in the ISBN number, hit search.

It came up with a number of results, and each one I looked at gave the publication date.

Admittedly this book was published in 2010, but it was one I had handy so used it to see what happened.

No harm trying!!

Good luck.

Philippa

[Jan1954]

Could you post the details of 2 or 3 titles and then we could scout around for you. Author/editor, title, publisher should be enough.

Shipping Wonders of the World edited by Clarence Winchester and published by the Fleetway House, London. This is in 2 volumes.

I have a couple of books (The Golden Wonder Book and the Mammoth Wonder Book) that I think were published in the 1930s. Although there are no dates on these either, they belonged to my Mum when she was a child. Mum was born in 1930.

The Shipping books seem to be in a similar style.

Thanks.

[Jan1954]

Jan, I just used Mr Google and typed in the ISBN number, hit search.

There are no ISBN numbers either! (Aaaaargh!!!)

I wonder when they became mandatory.....

[Philippa_Harvey]

You are very controlled, Jan - I'd be saying more than AAAAAAAAARGH!!

I'm off to type in the title (I'll check Abe Books particularly) and see what happens.

Watch this space - but don't hold your breath, blue is not a good complexion colour!!

Philippa

[malcolm99]

There are no ISBN numbers either! (Aaaaargh!!!)

SBN in 1966 - the International SBN came in a few years later!

[malcolm99]

You could also try slapping* the title into the BL catalogue
http://explore.
bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=1&fromLogin=true&dstmp=13387109515 56&vid=BLVU1&fromLogin=true

and see what comes up

* slapping - technical term used by librarians

[malcolm99]

Mammoth Wonder Book

The BL catalogue says published about 1935

The Mammoth Wonder Book for Children Edited by J R Crossland and J M Parrish, etc [With plates]
John Redgwick Crossland 1892-
London : Odhams Press, [1935]


Also:
[The Golden Wonder Book for Children Edited by J R Crossland and J M Parrish, etc [With plates]]
John Redgwick Crossland 1892-
pp. 448. Collins' Clear-Type Press: London & Glasgow, [1943.] 1943


And:

Title: Shipping Wonders of the World Edited by Clarence Winchester, etc
Author: Clarence Arthur Charles WINCHESTER
Contributor: Frank Charles BOWEN ;
Alfred Cecil HARDY
Publication Details: 2 vol. pp. 1764.
Identifier: System number 003949295
Creation Date: 1764
Physical Description: Amalgamated Press: London, 1936, 37. 4º.
Shelfmark(s): General Reference Collection 08805.d.11.
UIN: BLL01003949295


It seems the BL catalogue should be a first port of call for you.

[Philippa_Harvey]

'Shipping Wonders of the World', Volumes I and II edited by Clarence Winchester, The Fleetway House, London. This is a massive 1930's partwork with nearly 2000 pages of specialist illustrated material dealing with almost everything everywhere up to the launch of the Queen Mary.

From a site in the UK. I forgot to get the address, but it's Oldluggers (online Academy).

A bit closer?

Philippa

(Back to the search).